CMA CGM to rationalize its SEAS service between Asia and the East Coast of South America

We are pleased to inform you that CMA CGM Group will be rationalizing its SEAS service, operated in partnership with China Shipping, Maruba and K Line. As of March 26th 2009, SEAS 1 and SEAS 2 loops will be merged into one single string, operated with ten 2 800 – 4000 TEU vessels.

CMA CGM will deploy four 4 000 TEU ships, China Shipping three 2 800 TEU ships, Maruba two 3 500 TEU ships and K Line one 4 000 TEU ship.

The new rotation will be as follows:

Qingdao – Pusan – Shanghai – Ningbo - Chiwan – Port Kelang – Rio de Janeiro – Santos – Buenos Aires – Montevideo – Rio Grande – Paranagua – Sao Francisco Do Sul – Santos – Durban (Eastbound) – Port Kelang – Hong Kong – Qingdao.

Xiamen and Hong Kong (Westbound) are not part of the new rotation but will be connected by feeders through other Group services.

“On the Asia – Latin America trade, November to June is traditionally a slack season. In order to adjust to the current economic situation and to better adapt its offer to the market demand, CMA CGM Group together with its partners has decided to reduce capacity by 35% by merging its two SEAS services while deploying larger ships and improving cost efficiency”, explains Jean-Yves Duval, Deputy Vice-President Latin America Lines.

These measures will allow the Group to continue to provide its customers with a reliable and quality service on this trade.